As the second group left in two cars, one vehicle drove at the 32-year-old man.

He was left with severe fractures to his legs, body and face.

Police are investigating whether there was a racial motive to the attack. It is understood that racist remarks may have been made during the argument.

The victim is Asian and the suspected attackers were white.

Police are appealing for witnesses after the incident at McDonald's, China Gardens, in Bolton at 11.40pm on Friday.

The man is being treated in hospital where he is in a serious but stable condition.

His injuries are not thought to be life threatening.

Police will be seizing CCTV as part of their investigation in the next few days.

The offender was said to be white and his group of friends consisted of another white man and two women, also white.

Detective Inspector Sarah May said: "At this stage, our investigation is focused on establishing exactly what sparked this confrontation and the exact details of what led up to this man being struck by a moving car and suffering a number of fractures to his face and body.

"He is currently receiving treatment in hospital and although his injuries are not thought to be life-threatening clearly he has suffered numerous serious injuries so we need to understand exactly what has happened and why.

"We are also investigating the possibility racist remarks were made during the argument.

"I would appeal to anyone who has information to come forward and I would include in that appeal the driver of the car and his friends who have vital information about what happened in that car park. I would strongly urge those people to call us and tell us what they know.

"We will be reviewing CCTV in the coming days but I would still encourage anyone who has information to come forward."